Kiel - Gothenburg

Kiel terminal: getting there and parking

The ferry departs from the Schwedenkai in the middle of Kiel; for your sat nav, use Schwedenkai 1, 24103 Kiel. Coming from the south, take the A7 and the Elbe Tunnel, then switch to the A215 towards "Kiel Zentrum / Fähren" and follow the signs to the port and on to the terminal. Short-stay parking is right at the port, with long-stay parking a little further out. Both are chargeable.

Without a car you'll get there quickly: it's around 800 metres on foot from Kiel Hauptbahnhof via Kaistraße, and city buses stop right nearby at Bootshafen and Holstenbrücke. Regional and long-distance trains run to Kiel; from Hamburg there are trains roughly every hour, taking just over an hour and a quarter.

Check-in and departure

Kiel - Gothenburg is an overnight ferry: you board in the evening and arrive in Gothenburg the next morning after 15.5 hours. Be at the terminal at least 60 minutes before the boarding time shown on your ticket; the exact departure time is on your e-ticket. If you arrive late, your booking may be forfeited without a refund, so build in some buffer time.

Keep a valid ID card or passport ready. Random border checks are possible between Germany and Sweden, and you won't be allowed to travel without one.

Timetable: departures by season

The timetable is the same in winter and summer: one departure each evening in each direction, every day, alternating between the Stena Germanica and the Stena Scandinavica. Summer departures from July 2027 haven't been fully published yet.

On board the Stena Germanica and Scandinavica

The Stena Germanica and the Stena Scandinavica operate the route. Since it's an overnight crossing, a cabin is included in every booking, available from Standard through Superior to Deluxe, some with a balcony or a whirlpool. On board you'll find several restaurants ranging from an à la carte venue to a buffet, bars, a shop, the Happy World children's play area and casino games.

Payment on board and at both ports is card only: credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) and debit cards (Maestro) are accepted, but cash isn't. Sweden uses kronor, but your card works everywhere.

Vehicles, motorhomes and electric cars

Cars, motorbikes and motorhomes go on the large vehicle decks; the longer and taller your vehicle, the higher the fare. Travelling with a dog means a pet cabin is compulsory and must be booked in advance; your pet can't stay in the vehicle during the crossing.

You can charge an electric car on the way: the Stena Scandinavica has three charging points for a total of six electric cars, which you can use overnight. Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance (select it during booking under "On-board extras"); it applies to cars up to 6 metres long and 2 metres high, and motorhomes and vehicles with a trailer or caravan are excluded.

Gothenburg terminal: arrival and onward travel

In Gothenburg, the ferry docks at the Germany Terminal, Elof Lindälvs gata, 414 55 Gothenburg, close to the Älvsborg Bridge, under which the ships sail into the harbour. By car, the terminal is signposted from the E6 with the ferry symbol. Without a car, tram lines 3 and 9 take you to the Chapmans Torg stop, about five minutes' walk from the terminal; the same lines connect the terminal with Gothenburg Central Station, with the city centre just a few minutes further on.

Gothenburg is a fast gateway to the west coast. Stockholm is about four and a half hours away by car, or just under three hours by train; Oslo and the rest of Sweden's west coast are also within easy reach.

Tickets and fares

What the crossing costs depends on the season, departure, cabin category and vehicle length. When comparing, always include the same things: passengers, vehicle and the cabin that's mandatory on this overnight crossing. Whether and how flexibly you can rebook or cancel depends on the fare you choose and is set out in the booking conditions. The booking window at the top of this page shows the current total price for your travel date. You'll find further departure ports and land alternatives under Ferries to Sweden; this route also has its own dedicated site at Fähre Kiel Göteborg.

Also bookable as a mini cruise

Stena Line also markets the route as a mini cruise: outbound and return in one package, two nights in your cabin with a full day in Gothenburg in between. The trip lasts three days, the cabin is included, and meals can be added as an optional extra. You book it the same way as a one-way crossing: choose an outbound and return sailing on consecutive evenings, plus a cabin; the booking window at the top of this page shows current prices.

Day 1: departure from Kiel

The mini cruise starts at the Schwedenkai in Kiel. Be at the terminal at least 60 minutes before the boarding time; the Stena Germanica or Stena Scandinavica departs for Gothenburg at 17:45. For dinner, choose between the TASTE buffet restaurant and the Metropolitan à la carte restaurant, then round off the evening with live music in the bar. After that, settle into your cabin and spend your first night at sea.

Day 2: a day in Gothenburg and the return crossing

You'll reach the port of Gothenburg at around 09:15 in the morning. The best place to watch the ferry sail in under the Älvsborg Bridge is from the sun deck. You then have the whole day to explore Sweden's second-largest city, whether that's shopping, museums, the Liseberg amusement park or a boat tour on the Paddan canals. Your luggage can stay in your cabin. In the evening at 17:45, the ship departs on the return crossing to Kiel.

Day 3: arrival in Kiel

After a second night on board with an evening programme, the shop and the bar, you arrive back at the Schwedenkai in Kiel at around 09:15 in the morning. From the sun deck you can enjoy sailing into the Kiel Fjord before disembarking at a relaxed pace. Kiel Hauptbahnhof is just a few minutes' walk away.